Dental plate



(No Model.)

B. J. WENKER.

DENTAL PLATE.

Patented Jan. 13,1891.

R s Runs 90, movwumm, wnsumnwu u c UNITED STATES PATENT ()EFIcE.

RAYMOND J. WENKER, OF WATERTOVVN, WISCONSIN.

DENTAL PLATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,622, dated January 13, 1891.

Application filed August 14, 1890. Serial No. 361,978. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RAYMOND J. WENKER, a citizen of Watertown, in the county of Jefferson and State of WVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dental Metallic Roof-Plates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in dental plates, and more particularly to an improvement in the metallic plates which are fitted to the roof of the mouth as a foundation or support to receive the vulcanized rubber or other material with which such plates are covered, and also the teeth which are secured to the plate. a

The object of the'invention is to save time and labor in the construction of dental plates, obtain greater durability, and to attain good results generally.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of my improved plate. Figs. 2 and 3 are views of modifications.

A represents my improved metallic roofplate, which isforrned, as usual, to conform to the shape of the roof of the mouth and is made of sufficient size to cover the entire surface of the roof of the month. On its curved edge the plate is provided with a series of dovetailed projections a at. These projections may be formed by means of a suitable punch designed "for the purpose, and are preferably bent alternately in opposite directions, or are bent alternately in sets from the alveolar ridge, and they are usually at the extreme edge, or, as shown in Fig. 3, very near the edge. The vulcanized rubber, celluloid, zylonite, or other plastic material or an appropriate alloy is put on in any approved manner. By means of this improvement the difficulty often encountered in covering all the projections is overcome, and these projections may be made shorter or the indentations need not be so deep, and thus whether bent or not, or in whatever character, can be covered without the necessity of a high ridge of rubber to interfere with the tongue; also, it may be added that by leaving spaces between the projections the connecting material adheres with greater tenacity. It will be seen that whatever press-.

ure is brought to bear on any certain pointas, for example, biting a stick of candy tending to bend the plate at said point, the projections, if bent, act as braces; also, if bent alternately they will tend, in consequence of their shape, to draw the rubber or other connecting material closer to the metallic base on both sidesthat is, above and below; also, when pressure. is brought to bear on the teeth at any certain point or on them at all if the projections are bent alternately the rubber or other connecting material will tend to pull from the lower row; but since they are dove tailed it cannot, whereas the upper row will act as braces. The rubber or other connecting material need not extend but a trifle beyond the projections, thus affording the possibility of covering the entire roof and in most cases a large portion of the alveolar ridge with the base metal.

Changes in details may of course be made, and I therefore do not wish to limit myself to the exact constructions; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A metallic dental roof-plate adapted to cover the roof of the mouth and having a series of projections bent alternately in different directions, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnes es.

RAYMOND J. WENKER.

Witnesses:

CHAS. HAHN, O. H. JAooBs. 

